Vehicle-step.



No. 694,572. v Patented Mar. 4, 1902.

J. m. PEYTON & T. w. LUTTBELL.

VEHICLE STEP.

(Applicatiofi filed Aug. '7, 1901.

(No Model.)

wilgass as I I 'z gfiljaegior s 9/ Z a 7.6 a,

THE-HORNE PETERS c0. PnoroLlmo., wAs r-mgmou, n. c.

UNITED STATES.

P TENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. PEYTON AND THEOPHILUS W. LUTTRELL, OF MAXONMILL,

KENTUCKY.

VEHICLE-STEP.

$EEG1FICATIO'N forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,572, dated March4, 1902.

Application filed August '7, 1901- Serial No. 71,236. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JAMES M. PEYTON and THEOPHILUS W. ,LUTTRELL,citizens of the United States, residing at Maxonmill, in the county ofMcCracken and State of Kentucky,- have invented anew and usefulVehicle-Step, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in vehicle-steps.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofvehiclesteps and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient one ofgreat strength and durability designed for use on buggies and othervehicles and adapted when it comes in contact with a stump or otherobstruction to swing rearward and pass over the same without injury toit or the vehicle. 7

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle-stepconstructed in accordance with this invention and shown applied to aportion of a vehicle. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same.Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the bracket. Fig. 4 is a similarview of the upper guide-plate. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the lower endof the springactuated rod, illustrating the construction of the seat forthe lower end of the spring.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding partsin all thefigures of the drawlugs.

1 designates a bracket designed to be secured to the bottom of the bodyof a buggy or other vehicle andconsisting of a T-shaped plate and a pairof depending arms 2, provided near their lowerends with perforations forthe reception of a pivot-bolt 3, which passes through the standard orupright portione of a step 5. The T-shaped plate of the bracket isdesigned to conform to the configuration of the framework of the bottomof the buggy or other vehicle, and the standard or upright portion ofthe step is provided between its ends with an opening 6,in which ispivoted the lower end 7 of a spring-actuated The connecting connectingrod or brace 8.

rod or brace 8, which holds the step normally in proper position foruse, is provided at its lower end 7 with an eye, through which passes apivot-bolt 9, which is also arranged in perforations of the standard orupright portion of the step.

The inclined rod or brace, which extends upward and rearward at an angleto the up right portion or standard of the step, passes through openings10 and 11 of lower and upper guide-plates 12 and 13, arranged asillustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawing and secured to theframework of the body of the buggy or other vehicle, which is providedwith an opening 14. The lower guide-plate, which is secured by suitablefastening devices to the body in rear of the opening 14, is pro videdwith an approximately V- shaped front portion, which is provided at thefront side with the said opening 10. The upper plate, which is securedin advance of the opening 14, is provided at its rear end with anapproximately V shaped portion, which has the said opening 11 at itsrear side. The opening let is inclined, and the openings 10 and 11 arearranged in alinement with the same and receive the inclined rod orbrace, whereby the latter is guided in its reciprocation.

The upper end 15 of the inclined rod or brace is threaded for thereception of a nut 16, which engages the upper guide-plate to form astop for limiting the forward or downward movement of the inclined braceor rod. The lower portion of theinclined rod or brace receives a coiledspring 17, which is interposed between the lowerguide-plate and a lowerstop 18, consisting of an annular flange or collar fixed to the rod orbrace and provided atits upper face with an annular groove forming aseat for the lowerend of the coiled spring. The coiled spring is adaptedto throw the step forward, and it holds the same at the limit 0 itsforward movement, and thereby maintains the said step in proper positionfor use. The openings 10 and 11 are of sufficient size to permit alimited'lateral play of the rod, and a washer 19 is preferablyinterposed between the upper end of the spring and the lowerguide-plate, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

Should the step come in contact with the stump of a tree or otherobstruction, it will swing rearward against the action of the coiledspring and it will pass over such obstruction without jarring orotherwise injuring the vehicle, and the spring will return the step toits normal position as soon as the same has passed beyond suchobstruction.

It will be seen that the step is exceedingly simple and inexpensive inconstruction, that it possesses great strength and d urability, and thatit is adapted to be readily applied to a vehicle. It will also be seenthat efiicient means are provided for holding the step normally inproper position for use and that the step is adapted to swing rearwardshould it come in contact with the stump of a tree or other obstruction,whereby injury to it or to the vehicle is prevented.

\Vhat we claim is 1. A device of the class described comprising a hingedstep adapted to swing rearward, an inclined rod or brace extendingupward from the step and designed to be connected with the body of thevehicle, a spring disposed on the rod or base and holding the stepnormally in proper position for use, and means for limiting the movementof the rod or brace, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described comprising a hinged step adapted toswing rearward, an inclined rod or brace extending upward from the stepand connected with the same at its lower end, the upperend of the rod orbrace being slidingly connected with the vehicle, means for limiting thereciprocation of the rod or brace, and a spring for holding the stepnormally in position for use, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described comprising a hinged step, an inclinedrod or brace pivoted at its lower end to the step, a guideplate designedto be mounted on the body of the vehicle and having a guide-opening,receiving the rod, a coiled spring disposed on the rod and engaging thesame, and means for limiting the movement of the rod, substantially asdescribed.

4. A device of the class described comprising a hinged step, the upperand lower guideplates designed to be mounted on the body of a vehicleand provided with approximately V-shaped portions havingoppositely-disposed guide-openings, an inclined rod or brace passingthrough the guide-openings and connected at its lower end to the stepand provided at its upper end with means for engaging the upperguide-plate, said rod or brace being also provided near its lower endwith a stop, and a coiled spring disposed on the rod or brace andinterposed between the stop and the lower guide-plate, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have heretoaffixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES M. PEYTON. THEOPI'IILUS WV. LUTTRELL.

\Vitnesses:

W. V. EATON, McD. FERGUSON.

